Juve Miss Chance To Go Top With Draw At Parma

Juventus missed the chance to return to the top of the Serie A standings after being held to a goalless draw in Wednesday night’s rescheduled clash against Parma.

Juve dominated in terms of opportunities but could not find a way through and they remain in second spot, a point behind AC Milan, albeit still with a game in hand on the pacesetters.

Juventus should have taken an early lead when Giorgio Chiellini got up to meet Andrea Pirlo’s free-kick, but his header bounced off the base of the post.

The rest of the half involved lots of Juve probing but few concrete chances. Arturo Vidal looped a high ball into the box and Alessandro Matri got up to meet it, but his header lacked power.

Pirlo came inches away from producing something special, but his free-kick from 20 yards flew just past the post. Mirko Vucinic beat a man on the edge of the box with a clever jink, however his finish was woeful while Matri burrowed into the area only to overrun the ball allowing Nicola Pavarini to come out and smother.

Parma came out with more purpose after the break and created their first chance as former Juve forward Sebastian Giovinco, following a swift counter, forced Gianluigi Buffon into a sprawling save.

The whole second period took on a different shape, with Parma far more positive and Juve struggling to create anything of note. Giovinco looked the most dangerous player on the pitch after the break, but too often seemed to go to ground rather than head for goal.

Juve started to click towards the end of the game, but they still couldn’t find the breakthrough. Pirlo hit one from distance that had Pavarini bundling the ball behind while Claudio Marchisio fizzed a shot just past the upright. Six minutes from time Juve should have won it as Pirlo dinked the ball over the top but Pavarini made a vital stop to deny Emanuele Giaccherini.

In the night’s other match, Atalanta beat Genoa 1-0 to claim their first home win since December 21. Substitute Guido Marilungo struck 12 minutes from time to hand the Bergamaschi their second victory in seven games.